somerville etal



Jan- 21, 1964 G. G. soMERvlLLE ETAL 3,118,220

MECHANISM FR SEPARATING CORE LAMINATIONS Filed Oct. l, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jarl- 21, 1964 G. G. solvnatRvlLLEl ETAL 3,118,220

MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING CORE LAMINTINS Filed Oct. l, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,118,229 MECHANLSM FR SEPARAJHNG CGRE LAMiNATiNS Gareth G. Somerville and Aldo C. Blasioli, Pittsleld,

Mass., and Russell D. Wheeler, Maliens/ille, NX., as-

siwors to General Electric (ompany, a corporation of New Yori:

Filed Get. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 227,135 4 Claims. (Cl. 29-239) This invention relates to a separating mechanism and more particularly to a separating mechanism for separating core laminations.

In making pre-formed, single turn magnetic cores it has been found desirable to separate the various laminations of the core in order to stagger the various joints of the final core. One method of mahng such preformed, single turn magnetic core is described and claimed in application Serial No. 227,193, tiled concurrently herewith, in the name of Gareth G. Sommerville, one of the inventors herein, for Method of Making Pre-Formed Single Turn Magnetic Cores, and assigned to the same assignee as this invention. As noted in that application, a single tum core is one in which each of the laminations has been cut such that it extends for approximately a single turn of the core. The invention herein described iinds specific application in the method described in that application, although obviously, not limited to such method.

As described in the aforementioned application, after the core has been cut along a single plane it is desirable to separate the various laminations of the core and form them into staggered joints. inasmuch as it is desirable that the method be performed with as much automatic equipment as possible, it is desirable to provide a mechanism to automatically separate the laminations from each other. Since all of the laminations are cut along a single plane, it is necessary that a mechanism be provided which will separate one or a plurality of laminations while holding the remaining laminations grouped together in the cut core. It is also desirable that the mechanism be such that it may be used to separate the laminations singly, or in groups of two or three laminations, as desired, for the particular type of core being constructed.

it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel mechanism for separating laminations of a single turn magnetic core.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel mechanism which will separate a lamination from a group of laminations while holding the remaining laminations together in the group.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel separating mechanism which may be used to separate one or more laminations from a group of laminations.

In carrying out this invention in one form, a separating mechanism is provided for separating laminations of a cut core. The separating mechanism is in the form of a rotating means which is provided w'.h a separating means and a holding means, The separating means and the holding means are positioned about the rotatable means such that the separating means will separate laminations from a group of laminations, and the holding means will prevent other laminations of the group from being separated therefrom. rlie depth of the holding means and the separating means determine the number ot laminations which may be separated from the group in any single separation.

The invention which it is desired to protect will be clearly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims appended hereto. However, it is believed that this invention and the manner in which its various Obie-cts and advantages are obtained, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the iollowing detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, especially when tal-len in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FEGURE 1 is a front View of one form of separating mechanism according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side View of the mechanism shown in FiG. l;

FiGURE 3 is a perspective View of the separating mechanism shown in FiGS. 1 and 2;

FEGURE 4 is a front View of another form oi separating mechanism according to this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a side view i the echanism shown in FIG. 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the separating mechanism shown in FEGS. 4 and 5; and

FGURES 7, 8 and 9 are top and side views of the separating mechanism shown in FiGS. 4, 5 and 6 showing the operation of the separating mechanism.

In the drawings there is shown a separating mechanism in the form or a rotatable means having holding means and separating means. The holding means and the separating means are spaced about the separating ii echanism such that for each revolution of the mechanism two separations will occur. However, it will be understood, that if desired, the mechanism could be designed to make only one separation for each revolution, or it could be designed to make more than two separations for each revolution.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. l, 2 and 3 or the drawings, in which like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views thereof, a separating mechanism, designated as ftd, is shown. The sepafating mechanism is shown as a rotatable device made in a single piece, and having a head portion E2 and a hub portion 14. The head portion i2 is formed with a pair of holding members ab and i8, and a pair of separating members 2li and 22. As can be seen, especially in FIG. 2, the depth of the hol-ding members i@ and it is slightly less than the depth ot" the separating members 2li and 2?. Stated in another way, the bottom or the holding members lo and it; will rotate in a plane which is separated from the plane of rotation of the edges of the separating members 2d and 22 by a small distance. This difference or distance, indicated as W in HG. 2, is slightly greater than the thickness of the laminations to be separated. For example, if the laminations are approximately 12 mils in thickness and it is desired to separate one lamination at a time, the distance W would be approximately 13 However, if it is desired to separate two laminations at a time then the diilference W would be approximately 25 mils for laminations that are 12 mils in thickness.

As can be seen from FEGS. l through 3, the holding members and lli are spaced substantially 180 apart about the head portion l2 of the separa ing mechanism it). The separating members and 22 are also spaced approximately 130 apart about the head portion 12 and Vare spaced approximately from the holding meinbers i6 and i5. vWith this construction and with the distance W approximately 13 mils, the separating mechanism lli) will provide two separations per revolution of the mechanism with a single lamination being separated at each operation. Obviously, if desired, the holding members and separating members could be designed to provide only a single separation per revolution of mechanism it?, or to provide more than two separations per revolution. Clearly, the number of laminations separated during each separation will depend upon the distance W, as has been previously described.

The hub member i4 is provided to secure the mechanism lo to any type of rotating device. An opening 24 is provided in head l2 and a bore 25, communicating with opening 24, is provided through the hub i4. A screw member 23 lits through the bore 26 with head 3% of screw 2S contacting a shoulder 32 formed between the bore 25 and the opening Z4. in this marmer, the separating mechanism it? may be connected to a rotatable device for operation of the mechanism.

Referring now to 4 through 6 of the drawing, another form of separating mechanism, designated lil', is shown. l'n this rorrn of the invention the mechanism le is formed in two separate parts. One part has a head portion d2 and a hub portion 44. The second part i6 is removably positioned on the head portion 42 and is provided with a pair of holding members dll and Sti. Separating members 52 and 5d are formed on part dit, in a manner similar to that for mechanism l@ shown in FlGS. 1 through 3. Considering especially FiG. 5 of the drawing, it can be seen that the plane of rotation of the bottom of holding members d8 and 56l is separated from the plane of rotation of the edges or" the separating mechanism 52 and 5d by a small distance, which is indicated as f' in FlG. 5. in the sarne manner as earlier described with reference to FiGS. l through 3, the distance W' will be slightly greater Lman the thickness of a single lamination where the separating mechanism iii' is used to separate a sirgle lamination, and of course, where more than one larnnation is to be separated the distance W twill be slightly greater than the combined thickness of the number of laminations which it is desired to be separated at a single time.

Of course the holding members 423 yand t? which are formed on the member 45 are substantially 180 apart from each other and are mounted on the head member i12 so as to be separated by approximately 90 from the separating members 52 and 5d. As will be understood the separating members 52 and 54 `are also formed on the ead member d?. so as to be substantially 180 apart about the head member 42. |hus it is seen that the construction of the separating members 52 and 54 and the holding members d, 5d, are substantially the same as that for FlGS. l through 3. However, by making the member 4,6 removL ble from the head member 42 it is possible to change member 45, as desired, to provide dilerent holding members in the separating mechanism ib. By merely providing diiierent holding members it is possibile to change the distance W and thereby to change the number of laminations which will be separated for any given separation, rather than necessitating the change of the entire separating mechanism as would be necessary with reference to tbe mechanism disclosed in FIGS. l through 3.

Gf course, it will be understood, that the distance between the holding members and the separating members will not always be 90, as shown. in operation of the separating mechanism of this invention, it is desirable that the separating member be inserted into the laminations just before the holding member is rotated past the laminations. if the separating member is inserted into the laminations too soon, the lamination or laminations 'being separated may be bent `and distorted, thus preventing the formation of a proper joint between the lamination ends. Clearly, the circumference of the separating device and the width of the laminations will determine the exact angular relation between the holding members and the separating members. ln the form of invention shown in FIGS. 4-6, it is possible to adjust the member de, to change the angular relation between the separating menibers 52, 5e and the holding members rib, Thus, for changes in width of the core laminations adjustment may be made or" member e6, to provide the desired angular relation to prevent distortion of the separated laminations.

ln order to mount the holding members 4S, Si? the part 4:5 onto the part 4t', the part de is pr vided with an opening :To which extends a major portion through the n member 46. A smaller opening 53 is provided in the base of member 46 and a shoulder 6l? is formed between the opening 55 and the opening 53. A bore member 62 is provided through the head 42 and the hub 44 of the part et?. A screw member `642 is provided which tits through the openings 56, 58 and bore 62 for securing members 46 and 4@ together to `a rotating device. The head 56 or the screw 64 contacts or butts against the shoulder firmly securing the member l5 to the member di?, and also firmly securing the entire separating mechanism iii to any Itype of rotating device.

in operation of either of the separating mechanisms it) or lil', as will be understood, the holding member will ride over a stack of laminations and just before the holding member :leaves t e top of the laminations, one of the separating members will be inserted between the laminations in the group thereby separating one or a number of iaminations, depending upon the distance W between the plane of rotation of the bottom of the holding member and the plane of rotation of the edge of the separating member. The separated laminations will ride over the top of the separating member while the bottom of the separating member will hold the remaining larninations in the stack. As the separating member rides past the stack of ilaminations, the holding member will be rotated over the laminations and the laminations will be allowed to move up against the bottom of the holding member. Then, or course, as the next separating member contacts the stack of laminations the holding member moves ont to allow the separating member yto separate another lamination, or `number of laminations. The operation of the separating mechanism lb is shown clearly in FlGS. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings. Of course, it will be understood t. at the sepanating mechanism it) operates in substantially the iden-tical fashion as the separating mechamsm te', therefore, it is believed only necessary to show one operation since it is believed that the manner ot the continu-ous operation or" the separating mechanism, either itl `or lb', will be readily understood by those skilled in `the art.

Considering now FlGS. 7, 8 and 9, and Vparticularly FIG. 7, there is shown a top and side view of the sep-arafting mechanism in the vbeginning or" the separating action. As shown particularly in the side view, a stack ot laminations 7h, 72 and '74 lare being held in the stack by the bottom oi the hol g member ti of the separating mechanism itl'. As can be seen from the top View in PEG. 7, the separating member 52 is out of contact with the stack of laminations, [the separating member 54 is also ont of contact with the laminations and the holding member 43 is on the opposite side, lalso out of Contact with the stack of laminations. The direction ot rotation of the separating member ld is clockwise, as indicated by Ithe arrow.. iDuring the rotation of the mechanism it as shown particularly in PEG. 8, the holding member Si? rides over the top of the stack of laminatio-ns 7b, 72 and 7d and `as it reaches the outer portion of upper lamination 7i? the separat-ing member 52 just begs to enter the stack of Lamm-ations between laminaltions 7i) and 72. For punposes of this description, it is assurned that the distance W is approximately equal to the thickness of a single lamination. Considering the thickness of laminations 7i?, 72 and 'i4 as being l2 mils then, of course, the distance W will be approximately i3 mils. As :can be seen in the side View ol: FIG. 8, the knife edge oi the separating member 52 is just entering the iamiilations between laminations 7i? and 72 and has begun to tilt lann ation 7@ away from the stack 72, 74. At the same time, the holding member Sti is rotating away from the stack of laminations and is just ready to release the upper lamination 7% for separation.

Considering now FlG. 9 of the drawings, it can be seen considering iirst the top view that the holding member 5t? has now completely released the lamination stack and has moved away from such stack. The member 52 5 has now entered completely into the stack of laminations, the lower portion of the separating member 52 holding the laminations 72, 74 in the stack, and the upper side of the separating member S2 is separating the upper lamination 70 lfrom the stack and is removing it therefrom.

Of course, it will be understood that as the separating member 10 continues to rotate it will move from the position shown in FiG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 7. ln moving to such position the holding member 4S will pass over the stack of lmnations 72, 74 and will thereby hold the laminations stacked together as the knife or separating member 52 is removed from the stack of lamination. Of course, as it continues its rotation then the separating member 54 wil-l enter the lamination stack between laminations 72, 74 thereby removing lamination 72 from `the stack. Obviously, this operation will continue until all the laminations in the stack have been separated from the stack.

From the above description of both the construction of the separating mechanism 1G and 10 and the description of the operation thereof, it is believed clear that there has been shown and described a novel separating mechanism which may be utilized for automatically separating laminations from a group of laminations. While the present preferred embodiments of the invention have been described it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modications may be made in such embodiments without departing from the invention herein disclosed, and the claims appended hereto are not limited to such embodiments but are intended to cover all such modifications as fall Within the spirit and scope of such claims.

What is claimed as new and which it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A separating mechanism for separating laminations comprising a rotatable member, holding means and separating means formed on said rotatable member, said holding means having a bottom portion rotating in one plane and said separating means having an edge portion rotating in a separate plane, said separate plane being 6 spaced from said one plane by a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the laminations to be separated, said holding means and said separating means being spaced about said rotating member to enable said separating means to separate said laminations as said holding means releases said laminations.

2. A separating mechanism for separating laminations from a stack of iaminations comprising a rotatable member, holding means and separating means formed about said rotatable member, said holding means having a bottom portion rotating in a rst plane and said separating means having an edge portion rotating in a second plane, the distance between said first plane and said second plane being substantially equal to the thickness of the laminations to be separated, said holding means and said separating means being spaced about said rotating means such that two separations occur during each rotation of said rotatable means.

3. A separating mechanism for separating laminations from a stack of laminations comprising a rotatable member, said rotatable member being yformed of two parts, one part of said rotatable member comprising a hub portion and a pair of separating members, the second part of said rotatable members comprising a pair of holding members, said holding members being removably mounted to said first part of said rotating member, said holding members having bottom portions and said separating members having edge portions, said bottom portions of said holding members rotating in a plane spaced from the plane of rotation of said edge portions of said separating members, the distance between said planes being substantiallyl equal to the thickness of laminations to be separated.

4. A separating mechanism as claimed in claim 3 in which said second part is angularly adjustable relative to said rst part.

References Cited in the tile oi this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,652,786 Manchester Dec. 13, 1927 

1. A SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING LAMINATIONS COMPRISING A ROTATABLE MEMBER, HOLDING MEANS AND SEPARATING MEANS FORMED ON SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER, SAID HOLDING MEANS HAVING A BOTTOM PORTION ROTATING IN ONE PLANE AND SAID SEPARATING MEANS HAVING AN EDGE PORTION ROTATING IN A SEPARATE PLANE, SAID SEPARATE PLANE BEING SPACED FROM SAID ONE PLANE BY A DISTANCE APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF THE LAMINATIONS TO BE SEPARATED, 